Vocabulary Slap Game ( Flyswatter Game ) Directions: Project a Vocabulary Scramble sheet on a projection screen or Smart Board. Divide the class into two teams. Each team sends one person up to the screen. The teacher reads the definition of a vocabulary word related to climate change. Using a flyswatter (or the student s hand), the first student to swat the correct word on the screen receives 1 point. Play to 10 points or until all words have been used. The game is divided into two rounds, each with about 15 vocabulary words. Each round has its own vocabulary scramble sheet (to make it easier for students to find the words) and associated vocabulary definitions. Materials Needed: 2 flyswatters (optional) Vocabulary Definitions (below) Vocabulary Scramble Sheets (below) Time Needed: 20 to 30 minutes Adaptations: Can be played as a partner game at a desk: o Divide class up into pairs. Each pair receives a paper copy of the Vocabulary Scramble as well as two highlighters, each a different color. After the teacher reads a definition, the two students race to highlight the correct vocabulary word. After the game, the students count up the number of words he/she highlighted. The student with the higher number wins the game. Minnesota Department of Health Minnesota Climate & Health Program PO Box 64975, St. Paul, MN 55164
Round 1: Vocabulary Definitions 1. Ecosystem a natural community of plants, animals, and other organisms and the physical environment in which they live and interact. 2. Habitat the place in the environment where a plant or animal lives. 3. Atmosphere a mixture of gases, such as nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide, that surrounds the Earth. 4. Weather the current conditions of the atmosphere at a particular place and time, such as temperature, humidity, precipitation, cloudiness, wind, and atmospheric pressure. 5. Precipitation any moisture that falls to Earth, such as rain, snow, hail, sleet, or mist. 6. Climate the pattern of weather over a long period of time. 7. Global Climate the average climate of the entire Earth. 8. Climate Change a significant change in the climate over time. 9. Fossil Fuel an energy-rich substance that is created from dead plant and animal material trapped between layers of rock deep within the Earth. 10. Coal a dark-colored rock that is mined from the Earth s surface and can be burned to create energy. 11. Oil a dark-colored liquid that can be found deep in the Earth. It can be refined to make gasoline, diesel, asphalt, and plastics. 12. Natural Gas an odorless, colorless gas found in the Earth. 13. Greenhouse Gas a natural or human-made gas that traps heat in the atmosphere. Examples include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and ozone. 14. Water Vapor water that is present in the atmosphere as gas. 15. Carbon Dioxide a colorless, odorless gas that is released from the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas.
Round 1: Vocabulary Scramble Vocabulary Slap Game ( Flyswatter Game )
Round 2: Vocabulary Definitions 1. Methane a colorless, odorless gas that is produced when plants, animals, and garbage decay. It is produced naturally and as a result of people s activities. It is the most abundant greenhouse gas. 2. Ozone a gas made up of three atoms of oxygen bonded together. High in the atmosphere, it protects the Earth s surface from harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Close to earth, it is a pollutant created from other pollutants that react with each other. It can cause health problems in humans. 3. Ultraviolet Radiation a type of invisible radiation that is released by the sun. Being exposed to this can cause sunburn and sometimes skin cancer and eye damage. We use sunscreen to block it from entering our skin so that we don t get sunburned or skin cancer. 4. Greenhouse Effect the process by which greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap heat from the sun and reflect it back to Earth rather than letting it leave the planet. 5. Global Warming This happens when more and more greenhouse gases accumulate in the atmosphere and trap more and more heat near the Earth s surface. As more heat is held within the Earth s atmosphere, the temperature near the Earth s surface gradually warms up. 6. Adaptation human actions that respond to climate change in a way that minimizes its effects on ecosystems and on humans. For example, if the climate is getting warmer, we might wear light-weight clothing more often in hot weather. 7. Mitigation taking actions in order to decrease the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. For example, we might drive an electric car instead of a gas-powered car so that less carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. 8. Carbon footprint the total amount of greenhouse gases released by a person, family, building, organization, or company each year. It includes the amount of greenhouse gases released from direct use (such as heating a home or driving a car) and from indirect use (such as the amount of fuel needed to produce a good or a service). 9. Renewable Resource a natural resource that can be made or regrown as fast as it is being used. Some examples are wind power or solar energy, which are both used to make electricity. 10. Extreme Weather Event severe weather such as a blizzard, tornado, severe thunderstorm, or heat wave. 11. Drought a period of unusually dry weather that causes significant shortages of water for ecosystems and for humans. 12. Infectious Disease an illness caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, or other organisms that enter and grow in the human body.
13. Invasive Species a plant, animal, or other organism that does not naturally live in a particular environment but has been introduced there, often by humans. It can harm native species, ecosystems, and create problems for people. 14. Pollutant a substance that contaminates the air or water. They can cause problems in ecosystems as well as health problems in humans. 15. Allergen a substance that causes allergies. Examples include dust, mold, and pollen. 16. Asthma A disease that affects people s lungs and makes it difficult to breath. Air pollution, allergens, heavy exercise, and certain weather conditions can trigger an asthma attack.
Round 2: Vocabulary Scramble
Minnesota Department of Health Climate & Health Program health.climatechange@state.mn.us 651-201-4899 August 2014